Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Hedge is brown, is it dead, please help!

coporthcawlsfXmYG_fcoporthcawlsfXmYG_f Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello! 

We have recently moved into a new house and the hedges are not doing well. I have had a look online and it seems like they may be dead. It would great to hear your thoughts. Can it be rescued? Should we have them removed? Any and all help welcomed! 

Thanks,

Chris 

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited May 2023
    @coporthcawlsfXmYG_f Sorry to say it won't recover. But I am not good at ID s when it comes to conifers. The only exception are Thujas I don't think yours are but will stand corrected. Welcome!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited May 2023
    If most conifers are cut back into brown wood, they won't reshoot.  This has obviously happened to yours.  Not dead, but definitely unsightly and won't recover.

    If you cut out all the brown stuff, the top would continue to grow and the green bits down low would expand.  But it would take years.  Bight the bullet.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    As @bédé says, you can chop the dead areas out - if you can  take the lower ⅓ or so out, it's called 'raising the canopy', and can look really good as you can make them 'tree' shaped, and allows more light in underneath - then you have space to plant, or have pots, or a bird feeding area, etc.. if you wanted to. Some look like they'll need taking out completely, but I can't really tell from the pic.
  • DaveGreigDaveGreig Posts: 189
    Sorry for going off topic but I’ve always had a notion to strip a mature dead conifer hedge back to the branchy skeletal structure within and grow a variety of climbers up it. With a bit of good soil prep and no longer having the hedge sucking up all the moisture it should be possible with the right varieties of clematis and honeysuckle to have it in flower all summer. Problem is I don’t know how long conifer wood lasts before it rots away and the whole structure would fall over. Some judicious bolstering would therefore be an ongoing feature of this horticultural masterpiece.

    It’s just a pipe dream of course that would probably be beset by many practical difficulties but if my conifer hedge ever gives up the ghost…………


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I disagree about the raising canopy thing with conifers. I always think they look dreadful like that, and just aren't suited to that type of culture, even if done actively from early on. I don't think the OP's look good enough in the right places to try anyway.
    I'd take them out @coporthcawlsfXmYG_f , and replace with something easier for you to maintain, or do as @DaveGreig suggests, but any climber will need to be carefully sited, and good prep done first. 

    if you choose suitable climbers Dave, and the conifer trunks start to deteriorate, at least the climbers can be cut back and another structure put in. Easier if it's a shorter distance to cover, but no different from replacing a standard fence  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited May 2023
    DaveGreig said:
    Sorry for going off topic but I’ve always had a notion to strip a mature dead conifer hedge back to the branchy skeletal structure within and grow a variety of climbers up it. With a bit of good soil prep and no longer having the hedge sucking up all the moisture it should be possible with the right varieties of clematis and honeysuckle to have it in flower all summer. Problem is I don’t know how long conifer wood lasts before it rots away and the whole structure would fall over. Some judicious bolstering would therefore be an ongoing feature of this horticultural masterpiece.

    It’s just a pipe dream of course that would probably be beset by many practical difficulties but if my conifer hedge ever gives up the ghost…………



    I planted a leylandii hedge in a narrow passage.  It was as good as Yew when new, but as it grew it went bare at the base.  I am now growing tiny yew trees between every leyandii stilt.  Yew has the advantage of growing if cut back.  And liking shade a lot more.

    The few already-dead conifers didn't last long at all.  The roots rotted and stopped supporting the stem after abour 2 years.  I rocked them out, but they might have stayed upright for a couple of years longer.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • coporthcawlsfXmYG_fcoporthcawlsfXmYG_f Posts: 3
    Oof, okay, thanks all! 

    When should we think about taking them up and replanting? Now, or I had seen something about waiting until Autumn? 

    Thanks again! 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Autumn is a better time for planting shrubs or hedging. If we get another dry hot summer you'd have a hell of a job getting anything new properly established. Also, depending on what you want you would have the option of buying bare-root plants which establish faster and easier than potted ones, and are a lot cheaper. You can take out the old ones any time you like though.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DaveGreigDaveGreig Posts: 189
    bédé said:
    DaveGreig said:
    Sorry for going off topic but I’ve always had a notion to strip a mature dead conifer hedge back to the branchy skeletal structure within and grow a variety of climbers up it. With a bit of good soil prep and no longer having the hedge sucking up all the moisture it should be possible with the right varieties of clematis and honeysuckle to have it in flower all summer. Problem is I don’t know how long conifer wood lasts before it rots away and the whole structure would fall over. Some judicious bolstering would therefore be an ongoing feature of this horticultural masterpiece.

    It’s just a pipe dream of course that would probably be beset by many practical difficulties but if my conifer hedge ever gives up the ghost…………



    I planted a leylandii hedge in a narrow passage.  It was as good as Yew when new, but as it grew it went bare at the base.  I am now growing tiny yew trees between every leyandii stilt.  Yew has the advantage of growing if cut back.  And liking shade a lot more.

    The few already-dead conifers didn't last long at all.  The roots rotted and stopped supporting the stem after abour 2 years.  I rocked them out, but they might have stayed upright for a couple of years longer.
    Ah well. So much for that cunning plan.🥴
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It depends on the soil type @DaveGreig, and your location - as always. In clay soil, like we have here, conifer trunks will stay viable for quite a long time. You'd think they'd rot quite quickly in clay, but they don't unless they're cut right back to the base, and rain can get in and soak the soil consistently. While the trunks are still there, especially if branches are left in situ as well, they last quite a long time. I'm not sure it's the most attractive solution though - a nicely constructed screen with climbers is always better :)

    As @JennyJ says - autumn is ideal for getting hedging @coporthcawlsfXmYG_f , and you'll get plenty of suggestions depending on what you want to achieve, and also some good outlets for buying. The ground will need some amending, but it's far better to do it then so that the autumn/winter weather helps them establish.   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.